U.S. patent number 8,239,087 [Application Number 12/031,228] was granted by the patent office on 2012-08-07 for method of operating a vehicle accessory.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation. Invention is credited to Timothy J. Bennett, Frederick J. Berg, Ronald H. Dybalski.
United States Patent |
8,239,087 |
Dybalski , et al. |
August 7, 2012 |
Method of operating a vehicle accessory
Abstract
A vehicle includes a controller, a touch screen display in
communication with the controller, and a plurality of accessories
in communication with the controller. The various accessories are
each individually controlled by inputting commands into the touch
screen display. The controller transmits the inputted command via a
communication system to the selected accessory to motivate the
accessory between a first setting and a second setting.
Inventors: |
Dybalski; Ronald H. (Oxford,
MI), Berg; Frederick J. (Auburn, MI), Bennett; Timothy
J. (Kawkawlin, MI) |
Assignee: |
Steering Solutions IP Holding
Corporation (Saginaw, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
40955853 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/031,228 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20090210110 A1 |
Aug 20, 2009 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/29.1; 701/36;
345/173; 701/49; 345/661; 345/654; 345/652; 345/653; 345/156;
345/418; 345/649; 345/650 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K
37/06 (20130101); B60K 35/00 (20130101); H04L
67/125 (20130101); B60K 2370/1438 (20190501); B60K
2370/31 (20190501); B60K 2370/122 (20190501); B60K
2370/143 (20190501) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
5/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dager; Jonathan M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cantor Colburn LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of operating an accessory of a vehicle with a
controller in communication with the accessory and including a
touch screen display, said method comprising the steps of:
displaying a virtual image of the vehicle on the touch screen
display in a first position; reorienting the virtual image of the
vehicle on the touch screen display to a second position;
displaying a virtual image of the accessory, which is not displayed
with the virtual image of vehicle in the first position, together
with the virtual image of the vehicle in the second position;
touching the virtual image of the accessory on the touch screen
display to select the accessory; touching the touch screen display
to input a command for the accessory; transmitting the inputted
command to the accessory; and executing the inputted command.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller includes
a wireless communication system in communication with the accessory
and said step of transmitting the inputted command is further
defined as wirelessly transmitting the inputted command to the
accessory.
3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of
displaying at least one optional command on the touch screen
display after selecting the accessory.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a
plurality of accessories and the method further comprises the step
of selecting one of the plurality of accessories.
5. A method of operating an accessory of a vehicle, the vehicle
having a controller in communication with the accessory and a touch
screen display, the method comprising: displaying a virtual image
of the vehicle in first position on the touch screen display;
reorienting the virtual image of the vehicle to a second position
on the touch screen display; displaying a virtual image of the
accessory with the virtual image of the vehicle in the second
position, the virtual image of the accessory not displayed with the
virtual image of the vehicle in the first position; touching the
virtual image of the accessory on the touch screen display to
select the accessory; touching the touch screen display to input a
command for the accessory; transmitting the inputted command to the
accessory utilizing a wireless communication system; and
controlling the accessory based on the inputted command.
6. An interface apparatus for use in a vehicle, said interface
apparatus comprising: a controller; a touch screen display in
communication with said controller, the touch screen display
configured to display a virtual image of a vehicle in a first
position, the touch screen display further configured to reorient
the virtual image of the vehicle to a second position such that a
virtual image of an accessory is displayed, said virtual image of
the accessory not displayed with the virtual image of the vehicle
in the first position, the touch screen display further configured
to detect a touching of the virtual image of the accessory on the
touch screen display to select the accessory, the touch screen
display further configured to detect touching of the touch screen
display to input a command into said controller; the accessory
configured to have at least a first setting and a second setting; a
communication system configured to interconnect the controller and
the accessory, the communication system further configured to
transmit the command to the accessory to move the accessory between
said first setting and said second setting.
7. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said communication
system includes a wireless communication system.
8. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said controller
includes a processor.
9. The interface apparatus of claim 8, wherein said controller
includes a memory for storing data.
10. The interface apparatus of claim 9, wherein said controller and
said touch screen display communicate through said wireless
communication system.
11. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said accessory
includes an actuator.
12. The interface apparatus of claim 11, wherein said actuator
includes an electric motor.
13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 6, wherein said accessory
includes one of: a window actuator, a door actuator, a locking
mechanism, an audio entertainment system, a visual entertainment
system, a HVAC system, a power adjustment mechanism, a diagnostic
mechanism, a sensor system and a lighting system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a vehicle and method of operating
an accessory of the vehicle with a controller in communication with
the accessory and including a touch screen display.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicles include many accessories, such as a window actuator, a
door actuator, a locking mechanism, an audio entertainment system,
a visual entertainment system, a HVAC system, a power adjustment
mechanism, a diagnostic mechanism, a sensor system and a lighting
system. Individual switches located on or near an instrument panel
of the vehicle or within reach of a driver of the vehicle control
the various accessories. The switches are hard-wired to the various
different accessories. The driver manipulates the switch to
transmit a command through the wires interconnecting the switch and
the accessory to the accessory.
U.S. Published Patent Application 2007/0198472 A1 to Simonds et al.
discloses a vehicle having a multi-media system and a method for
accessing data stored on portable electronic devices with the
multi-media system. The multi-media system includes a controller
and a user interface. The controller includes a processor. The user
interface may include a touch screen display in communication with
the controller. The controller is in communication with the
portable electronic devices through either a hard wired connection
or by the use of a wireless communication system, such as infrared,
Bluetooth, and WI-FI. The controller detects the presence of the
portable electronic device, and accesses data from the portable
electronic device. A menu is displayed on the touch screen display
identifying the content of the information stored on the portable
electronic device. A user touches the touch screen display to input
a command. The controller then executes the command inputted. The
multi-media system permits the use and operation of the portable
electronic devices through inputs entered into the touch screen
display, thereby eliminating the need to handle the actual portable
electronic devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
The subject invention provides a vehicle comprising a controller
and a touch screen display. The touch screen display is in
communication with the controller for inputting commands into the
controller. The vehicle further comprises at least one accessory,
which is operable in at least a first setting and a second setting.
A communication system interconnects the controller and the at
least one accessory. The communication system transmits a command
inputted into the touch screen display to the at least one
accessory to move the at least one accessory between the first
setting and the second setting.
The subject invention also provides a method of operating the
accessory with the controller. The method comprises the steps of
displaying a virtual image of the accessory on the touch screen
display; touching the touch screen display to input a command for
the accessory; transmitting the inputted command to the accessory;
and executing the command.
Accordingly, the touch screen display of the subject invention
provides a single source for a driver to input commands for all of
the vehicle accessories. Because the controller communicates to all
of the vehicle accessories through the communication system, there
is no need to hard wire individual switches to the accessories.
Therefore, the subject invention eliminates the need for each
accessory to have a dedicated switch for controlling the accessory
and all related wiring interconnecting the switches and the
accessories.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an interior of a vehicle;
FIG. 3 is perspective view of a touch screen display showing a
virtual image of the vehicle;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the touch screen display showing a
virtual image of a plurality of accessories to select;
FIG. 5 of is a perspective view of the touch screen display showing
a virtual image of an interior of the vehicle showing an accessory
to select; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the touch screen display showing a
command being inputted into the touch screen display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate
corresponding parts throughout the several views, a vehicle is
shown generally at 20.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle 20 comprises a controller
22. The controller 22 includes a processor 24 for running a
software program thereon and a memory 26 for storing data. The
controller 22 may comprise a computer integrated into the vehicle
20, or may include a laptop computer mounted to the vehicle 20. It
should be appreciated that the controller 22 may also include some
other device not specifically described herein.
A touch screen display 28 is in communication with the controller
22 for inputting commands into the controller 22. The touch screen
display 28 preferably includes an LCD touch screen. However, it
should be appreciated that the touch screen display 28 may include
some other touch sensitive or interactive screen. The controller 22
and the touch screen display 28 may be integrally formed as a
single unit, or alternatively may be separate components in
communication with each other. The controller 22 and the touch
screen display 28 are in communication through a communication
system 30. The communication system 30 may include a hard wired
communication system 30, or alternatively the communication system
30 may include a wireless communication system 30.
The vehicle 20 includes at least one accessory 32 operable in at
least a first setting and a second setting. The first setting and
the second setting may correspond to any two preferential settings
for the accessory 32. For example, the preferential settings may
include a first volume and a second volume for an audio
entertainment system, a first position and a second position for a
window or a sunroof, or a first temperature and a second
temperature for a Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning ("HVAC")
system. The first setting and the second setting may also include a
query to the accessory 32. For example, if the accessory 32 is
defined to include a sensor, the first setting may be defined as
querying the sensor for information and the second setting may be
defined as not querying the sensor for information. It should be
appreciated that the first setting and the second setting may also
correspond to some other command, settings, queries, positions,
conditions, etc. not specifically described herein.
The at least one accessory 32 may include one of a group of
accessories 32 comprising: a window actuator 34, a door actuator
34, a locking mechanism, an audio entertainment system, a visual
entertainment system, a HVAC system, a power adjustment mechanism,
a diagnostic mechanism, a sensor system and a lighting system. It
should be appreciated that the accessory 32 may include some other
vehicular accessory 32 not specifically described herein and that
the vehicle 20 may and preferably does include a plurality of
accessories 32.
Each of the accessories 32 may include an actuator 34, however, it
should be appreciated that the accessory 32 need not require the
actuator 34. Typically, the actuator 34 includes an electric motor;
however it should be appreciated that the actuator 34 may include
some other power source, such as a hydraulic power source or a
pneumatic power source. If the accessory 32 includes the actuator
34, the actuator 34 moves the accessory 32 between the first
setting and the second setting. For example, assuming the accessory
32 is defined to include a window, the actuator 34 moves the window
between the first setting, i.e., a closed position, and a second
setting, i.e., an open position.
The communication system 30 interconnects the controller 22 and the
at least one accessory 32. The communication system 30 transmits a
command inputted into the touch screen display 28 to the at least
one accessory 32 to move the at least one accessory 32 between the
first setting and the second setting. As described above, the
communication system 30 may include a hard wired communication
system 30 interconnecting the controller 22 and the accessories 32,
or preferably, the communication system 30 includes a wireless
communication system 30 interconnecting the controller 22 and the
accessories. The wireless communication system 30 may include a
Bluetooth system, a Zigbee system, a RF system, or some other
similar wireless communication system 30.
The subject invention also provides a method of operating the
accessory 32 with the controller 22. Referring to FIG. 3, the
method comprises the step of displaying a virtual image of the
vehicle 20 on the touch screen display 28. A user touches the
virtual image of the vehicle 20 on the touch screen display 28 to
select the accessory 32. The virtual image of the vehicle 20 is
preferably a three-dimensional image. Accordingly, the user may
need to re-orient the virtual image of the vehicle 20 to locate the
desired accessory 32, such as by rotating the virtual image of the
vehicle 20. Therefore, the method may further comprise the step of
manipulating the virtual image of the vehicle 20 on the touch
screen display 28 to re-orient the virtual image of the vehicle
20.
Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, the method further comprises the
step of displaying a virtual image of the accessory 32 on the touch
screen display 28. As the vehicle 20 preferably includes a
plurality of accessories 32, the method further comprises the step
of selecting one of the plurality of accessories 32 to display on
the touch screen display 28. Once one of the accessories 32 is
selected, the method may further comprise the step of displaying at
least one optional command on the touch screen display 28 after
selecting the accessory 32, such as is shown in FIG. 3.
Alternatively, the method may further comprise the step of
manipulating the virtual image of the accessory 32 on the touch
screen display 28 to re-orient the virtual image of the accessory
32 between the first setting and the second setting, such as is
shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
The method further comprises the step of touching the touch screen
display 28 to input a command for the accessory 32. If one or more
optional commands are displayed on the touch screen display 28, the
command may be inputted by touching one of the displayed optional
commands. For example, if the accessory 32 is defined to include a
power sunroof, the user may select the sunroof by touching the
sunroof shown on the virtual image of the vehicle 20. Once the
sunroof is selected, one or more optional commands may be displayed
on the touch screen display 28, such as one command to "open" the
sunroof and one command to "close" the sunroof. The user inputs the
command by touching the optional command displayed on the touch
screen display 28. Accordingly, the user would touch the "open"
command to input a command to open the sunroof.
Alternatively, the command may be inputted by manipulating the
virtual image of the accessory 32. The controller 22 may include
gesture recognition software. The gesture recognition software is
capable of recognizing symbolic inputted commands. A symbolic
inputted command may include, for example, sliding a finger across
the touch screen display 28 to symbolize movement of the accessory
32. For example, assuming the accessory 32 is defined to include
the power sunroof as above, the user would select the accessory 32
by touching the sunroof on the virtual image of the vehicle 20.
Once selected, the controller 22 may display a virtual image of the
accessory 32, i.e., the sunroof, on the touch screen display 28.
The user enters the command by manipulating the virtual image of
the accessory 32 on the touch screen display 28. As such, the user
would touch the virtual image of the sunroof and slide the virtual
image of the sunroof to move the virtual image of the sunroof to an
open position, thereby using gesture recognition to input a command
to open the sunroof.
The method further comprises the step of transmitting the inputted
command to the accessory 32. The inputted command is transmitted
through the communication system 30 interconnecting the controller
22 and the accessory 32. If the communication system 30 includes
the wireless communication system 30, the step of transmitting the
inputted command is further defined as wirelessly transmitting the
inputted command to the accessory 32. Accordingly, the command is
inputted into the touch screen display 28 as described above. The
command is communicated form the touch screen display 28 to the
controller 22, where the controller 22 transmits the inputted
command to the accessory 32. It should also be appreciated that the
accessory 32 may transmit a signal to the controller 22 through the
communication system 30, such as to indicate a failure in executing
the command or an equipment failure. Because the accessory 32
receives the command to move between the first setting and the
second setting from the controller 22 via the communication system
30, and the touch screen display 28 provides the means by which the
commands are inputted for the accessory 32, there is no need to
provide each individual accessory 32 with its own control switch
and wiring connecting the control switch to the accessory 32.
Accordingly, all or a portion of all control switches in the
vehicle 20 may be eliminated by the subject invention.
The method further comprises the step of executing the command.
Once the accessory 32 receives the inputted command from the
controller 22, the accessory 32 executes the command by moving
between the first setting and the second setting. For example,
assuming the accessory 32 is defined as a power locking mechanism
for a door of the vehicle 20, the first setting includes a locked
position and the second setting includes an un-locked position, and
the inputted command is to unlock the door, the actuator 34 would
move the locking mechanism to the second setting to unlock the
locking mechanism.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it
is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is
intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of
limitation. As is now apparent to those skilled in the art, many
modifications and variations of the present invention are possible
in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood
that within the scope of the appended claims, wherein reference
numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in any way
limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
* * * * *